From the foothills they currently occupy, some people are realizing that their careers may have peaked with their last jobs.

It's not a pretty view.

For many people, the harsh reality is that the late 1990s was as good as it might ever be. Overheated business growth propelled many people in their 30s and 40s upwards in their careers, sending them skyward at a faster pace than in previous generations, and raising expectations to an unsustainable level.

[...]

One of the hardest lumps to swallow is accepting less money for the same work. But many job seekers have discovered that their value on the market skyrocketed during the boom--and since has nose-dived.